Corn-harvester.



No. 736,590. PATENTED AUG. 18', 1903. G. D. FOSTER. CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZ, 1901. NO MODEL.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1 PATEKTED AUG. 18. 1903.

G. D. FOSTER. CORN HARVESTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2. 1901.,

6 SgEETB-SHEBT 2.

HQ MODEL.

THE News warns no. Pum'uumu, mew won. D, cv

PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903..

G. 1). FOSTER. CORN HARVBSTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1901.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 NO MODEL.

PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

G. D. FOSTER.

CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1901.

6 SHEETS-$HBET 44 N0 MODEL.

PATBNTED AUG. 18, 1903.

G. D. FOSTER. CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. 1901.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEBT 5.

N0 MODEL.

m NwH mTo-ur wASmNGTON UNTTnn STAT S Patented August 18, 1903 GEORGE D.FOSTER, OF PRESTON, IOWA.

CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,590, dated August18, 19 03.

Application filed July 2,1901. Serial No. 66,853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. FOSTER, of Preston, county of Jackson,State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOorn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto corn-harvesters, and refers more specificallyto a machine of that class wherein the corn is cut and transferred to aplatform and formed into a shock, which when completed is deposited instanding position upon the ground.

Among the'salient objects of the invention are to provide an improvedshock-forming apparatus operating to automatically receive and transferthe severed corn to a platform, whereon the shock is formed ready to bedelivered in completed shape; to provide improvements in the details ofconstruction of an apparatus of the character referred to whereby theshock is built up progressively, commencing at the center andcontinually adding to the exterior in such a manner as to form a shockcircular and symmetric when completed; to provide improved means wherebythe successive accumulations of corn are held firmly during the buildingup of the shock; to provide improved means for affording an initialcentral support or mast around which the shock is formed and which mastis subsequently collapsed or retracted to permit the shock to bedischarged in standing position; to provide improved means fortransferring the shock to the ground, leaving it in upright position,and restoring the several parts concerned in the transfer to theirnormal positions in readiness for forming a succeeding shock; to provideimprovements in the means whereby the corn is gathered, severed, andtransferred to the shocking ap paratus, and in general to combine with acutting mechanism a shock forming and transferring mechanism in suchmanner as to provide a simple, effective, and convenient machine capableof rapid operation and comparatively free from liability to get out ofadjustment or repair.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, and will be readilyunderstood from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view, principally in sideelevation, but in part shown in vertical section, with the tongueremoved, taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2, of a corn-harvester embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail viewin elevation of parts of the platform and transfer-crane. Fig. 4 is anaxial sectional view of the collapsible mast and connected parts. -Fig.5 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail view, in sideelevation, of one of the series of compressing-fingers andsupporting-shaft therefor. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in plan of thegrapple which forms a part of the transfer-crane. Fig. 8 is afragmentary plan view of the rotary platform and swinging conveyer,showing a slight modification or addition' to the conveyor mechanismsometimes found useful; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of theauxiliary conveyor shown in side elevation.

Referring to said drawings, ldesignates as a whole a main frame, whichis conveniently and in the present instance of rectangular form andarranged horizontally, comprising longitudinal members 2 3 4: andtransverse members 5 6. Between the side frame members 2 and 3 isarranged the bull-wheel 7, which serves the combined functions of asupporting-wheel and drive-wheel for impart ing motion to the variousmovable parts, said bull-wheel being connected with the main frame byhaving its journals mounted in suitable castings (designatedSand 9) in ausual manner. The opposite side of the main frame is convenientlysupported by means of a supporting-wheel 10, connected with the mainframe in a usual manner, and at its front the main frame is providedwith the usual draft rigging or tongue 11.

12 designates as a whole a shock-supporting platform supported by themain frame and comprising a central circular rotatable table 13 andsurrounding stationary table 14, the rotatable and stationary partsbeing desirably and as shown in the present instance made flush witheach other.

15 designates a frame member or support which is arranged to extendbeneath the cenextended position.

tral portion of the rotatable platform and serves to support a suitablebearing-ring 16, upon which the center of the platform is rotatablymounted. Within a central aperture in the platform is mounted a casting16, provided with a radial flange 16, having bear ing engagement withthe bearing-ring 16 and so formed as to provide a centrally andvertically disposed cylindric socket or cup-shaped receptacle, open atits upper end and rising through the rotatable platform, butsubstantially closed at its lower end, said socket serving as a means ofsupporting a collapsible mast, (designated as a whole 17,) which formswhen extended an initial supportabout which the shock is formed androtates bodily with the platform. constructed and as shown in thepresent instance comprises a plurality of tubular sections (designated18 to 22, inclusive) adapted to nest within each other telescope fashionand provided with suitable locking mechanism, whereby they may be lockedtogether in The lowermost one of said mast-sections is rigidly securedin the socket of the casting l6, and each section, except the uppermostone, is provided with a longitudinal slot 23, through which extends astud 24, mounted upon the section next in order, the length of saidslots 23 being such as to limit the distance to which the telescopingsections may be extended. Each of the sections, with the exception ofthe uppermost, is likewise provided with a spring-catch 25, mounted uponthe exterior of the section and working through a slot formed in itsside and so located as to spring inwardly beneath the lower end of thenext superposed section to lock the latter in fully-extended position,as shown in Fig. 4. Each of the spring-catches is so shaped as toprovide a horizontal supporting portion 26, which rests squarely beneaththe edge of the superposed section when in operative position, and aninwardly and downwardly inclined or beveled cam portion 27, so locatedthat when the section next immediatelyabove the supported sectiontelescopes within the latter its lower edge will engage the inclined camportion and force the catch outwardly, so as to release the sectionsupported thereby. By means of this construction itwill be obvious thatif the uppermost section be released it will pass downwardly and forceoutwardly and release the catch of the next lower section, which latterwill in turn descend and release the nextvcatch, and so on throughoutthe height of the mast. The catch which supports the uppermost sectionisadapt-ed to be released by an inclined projection 28, formed upon thelower end of a hollow sliding block 29, which is arranged within saiduppermost section, and this block is normally held in its uppermostposition, or that shown in the draw ings, by means of'an internalspring-catch 30, provided with an outwardly-extending lip or catchportion 31, which works through a suit- The mast 17 as preferably ableaperture in the side of the hollow block and engages a correspondingaperture 32, formed through the side of the uppermost section. Means areprovided for releasing the catch 30 by the operator while seated uponthe drivers seat and after the shock has been fully formed, so as tocollapse the mast, such means comprising a cord or cable 33, connectedat one end with the catch, as indicated at 34,- extending thence over aguide-pulley 35, located radially opposite and inside of the catch, andextending thence downwardly through the hollow mast, through an aperture36 in the socket of the casting 16, around a guide-pulley 37, thenceradially outward beneath the platform to a point beneath that part ofthe stationary platform adjacent to the drivers seat, around aguide-pulley lo cated beneath the platform, (not shown,) and up throughthe platform to a handle 38, located so as to .be convenientlyaccessible to the driver. In order to permit the rotation of the mastwithout twisting the cord, a swivel 33 is interposed between the pulleys35 and 37. It will be obvious that by simply pulling on the cord 33 thesliding block 29, located within the uppermost section, will be releasedand drawn downwardly to release the uppermost section, which will inturn release the next section, and so on until the mast is completelycollapsed. The mast is extended or drawn up after the shock has beendischarged by the operator simply taking hold of its upper end anddrawing it outwardly and upwardly, its uppermost section being to thisend provided with a suitable handle 39. It is necessary that someprovision in the nature of fingers or projections be provided-to extendoutwardly from the upper end of the mast in order to hold the upper endsof the first stalks which are'deposited against the mast in suitablerelation to the latter, and to this end a plurality of fingers 40 arepivotally connected with the upper end portion of the sliding block 29and arranged to extend divergently and radially out through suitableslots 41, formed through the sides of the top mast-section 22, theseslots being ofsuch length as to permit the fingers to fold upwardly andinwardly as the block is drawn downwardly relatively to the sectionuntil the fingers have been drawn entirely within the mast-section, thusenabling the latter to telescope within the next lower section. Thepivot-ears 42, with which the fingers 40 are connected, are located nearthe central por-.

proximately equal intervals apart around the circumference of therotatable platform. As

a convenient construction each standard 43 consists of a rod, which isdesirably tubular, seated in a socket-casting 44, bolted to theplatform, as best indicated in Fig. 6, the standard being held fromrotation in its socket by means of a lug or stud 45, mounted thereon andprojecting into a slot 46, extending from the upper end of the socketdownwardly throughout a part of its height. The object of thisconstruction is to enable the standard to be readily lifted out ordisconnected when desired. Upon each standard is mounted a plurality ofspring compressing-arms 47, each desirably comprising a coiled-springportion 48, formed to encircle the standard and having one end securedrigidly to the standard by being inserted through the latter, and an armproper formed in continuation of the coil, so as to extend radiallyinwardly in position to bear against the mast when the shock-formingapparatus is empty and to bear against the stalks stacked around themast with increasing pressure as the shock grows and the spring-arms areforced radially outwardly against the tension of their coils 48.

Describing now the cutting and transferring mechanism whereby the cornis cut and transferred to the center of the shock-forming apparatus, 49and 50 designate a pair of gathering-fingers or guides mounted upon themain frame and arranged to extend forwardly therefrom approximatelyparallel with each other at such distance apart as to receive a row ofcorn therebetweeu as the machine is drawn along, the outerends of saidgatheringfingers being pointed and arranged to diverge from each other,as best indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The gathering-fingers areof increasing height from their points rearwardly, as clearly indicatedin Fig. 1, and are each provided with a pair of conveyerbelts 51 52,having projecting fingers 53, arranged at regular intervals apart andadapted to engage the cornstalks and carry them rearwardly between thetwo gathering-fingers to a set of conveyers 54 55, which receive thestalks at the rear ends of the gathering-fingers and convey them to theshock formed at the center of the rotating platform. Of the twoconveyer-belts mounted upon each gathering-finger the longer belt 51 isarranged uppermost and extends from apoint near the extreme forward endof the gathering-fingers obliquely rearwardly and upwardly to a pointnear the rear end of the finger, while the lower and shorterconveyer-belt 52 extends parallel with the belt 51 from a point midwayof the length of the finger rearwardly to the rear end of the latter, itbeing understood that the two longer belts 51 and the two shorter belts52, one upon each gatheringfinger, are arranged laterally opposite eachother. In order to thus support and operate said conveyer-belts, anupright drive-shaft 56 is mounted in suitable bearings in the rear endof each gathering-finger, the lower ends of each of said shafts beingprovided with a bevel-gear 57, which severallyintermesh withcorresponding bevel-gears 58, mounted upon a transverse driving-shaft59, supported beneath the front portion of the main frame. Upon theupright shafts 56 are mounted driving-sprockets 60, which carry the rearends of the respective belts 52, while at their front ends said beltsare trained about guide-sprockets 61, suitably mounted in thegatheringfingers adjacent to the points thereof. In order that theproximate sides of the conveyerbelts may follow the divergent andparallel portions of the gathering-fingers, additional guide-sprockets62 and 63 are provided, about which the conveyer-belts travel, theformer being each located at the juncture of the divergent portion ofthe finger with the straight portion thereof, while the sprockets 63 areseverally located at the extreme rear ends or heel portions of thegathering-fingers, as indicated clearly in Fig. 2.

The conveyer belts 52 are driven from sprockets 64, mounted upon thesame shafts 56 which operate the belts 51, while the for-' ward ends ofsaid bolts 52 are trained around guide-sprockets 65, mounted upon shafts66, arranged parallel with the shafts 56 and located at pointsintermediate the length of the gathering-fingers and adjacent to theinner edges of the latter. The belt 52 extends from the guide-sprockets65 around lower guide sprockets 67, arranged upon the same shafts as andvertically beneath the guide-sprockets 63.

In order to support and drive the pair of conveyer-belts 54 55, a shaft68 is journaled in suitable bearings vertically above the shaft 59, theupper end of said shaft being conveniently, and as herein shown,journaled in the rear end of the gathering-finger 50, while its lowerend is supported in a suitable bearing or journal-box carried by themain frame. The shaft 68 carries at its lower end a bevelgear 69, whichin turn meshes with a gear 70 upon the shaft 59.

Inasmuch as the conveyer-belts 54 55 convey the stalks to aconstantly-accumulating shock, it is necessary that these conveyersshould deliver to points farther and farther away from the center of theplatform as the shock increases in diameter, and to this end saidconveyer-belts are mounted upon what constitutes, in effect, a swingingframe constructed and arranged as follows:

71 and 71 designate upper and lower horizontal arms, each rotatablymounted at one end upon the shaft 68, so as to be capable of oscillatorymovement thereon.

72 designates a shaft journaled in the outer or swinging ends of thearms 71 and 71', so as to extend parallel with the shaft 68, and uponthe two parallel shafts 68 and 72 are mounted pairs of sprocket-wheels73 74 and 75 76, respectively, about which are trained theconveyer-belts 54 and 55. Springs 77 are arranged to act upon theswinging arms 71 71 in such manner as to force the latter inwardlytoward the center of the platform with a yielding pressure.

78 designates a swinging guard arranged to extend from the discharge endof the passage between the gatheringfingers inwardly toward the centerof the platform adjacent to the conveyer-belts 54 and 55, said swingingguard being pivotally supported upon a vertical pivot 79, so that it maybe swung with the swinging conveyer and being held yieldably toward theshock by means of a coiled contractile spring 80, connected at one endwith the rear end of the gathering-finger frame 49 and extending thenceto and connected with the swinging guard at a point intermediate of itslength.

Aregular rotation is imparted to the rotary platform by means of adrive-shaft 81, mounted in suitable bearings 82 83 to extendhorizontally beneath the platform, one end of said shaft being providedwith a spur-gear 84,

which intermeshes with an annular rack 85,

mounted "upon the under side of the moving platform, while at itsopposite end the shaft 81 is provided with a bevel-gear 86, whichintermeshes with a corresponding gear 87,

mounted upon the drive-shaft 59. The shaft 59 is driven from asprocket-wheel 88, mounted upon the main supporting or bull wheel,through the medium of a sprocket-chain 89, which extends from thesprocket 88 to a corresponding sprocket 90, mounted upon the end of theshaft 59.

' Describing now the cutting mechanism, 91 designates the finger-bar,which is mounted to. extend transversely beneath, the lower sides of thegathering-fingers 49 50 at a point some distance in advance of the rearends of said gathering-fingers, said finger-bar being conveniently, andas shown herein, attached directly to the under sides of the gatheringfingers. usual guard-fingers 92 and sickle-race, within which latter isarranged a reciprocatory sickle 93 of the usual type. In order to drivethe sickle, a shaft 94 is arranged to extend horizontally forwardparallel, but some distance below, the shaft 81, said shaft beingsupported in suitable bearings, as indicated at 95 96. Upon the rear endof the shaft 94 is mounted a pinion 97, which intermeshes with tionthereof and adjacent to the rear edge of the structure. In the preferredembodiment shown herein said crane comprises two main members-acrane-arm 103, mounted to oscillate about a vertical axis and having aswing- The finger-bar is provided with the ing arm 104, which terminatesin a grapple 105, adapted to embrace and engage the top of the shockwhen the crane-arm is swung into position to overhang the center of theplatform, and an upright mast or support 106 with which the crane-armhas pivotal engagement and which'serves also as a means of lifting thecrane-arm bodily, as will hereinafter appear. Upon the stationaryportion of the platform is mounted a casting 107, having a tubular orsocket-like member 108, within which the lower end of the crane-arm isarranged to fit and slide so as to be capable of being lifted bodilyupward and also of oscillatory movement therein, and at one side of thebase of said casting the latter is provided with a second socket portion109, within which the lower end of said mast 106 is rigidly seated. Theupper portion of the socket 108 and the mast are united by means of aclamp or support 110. Similarly a clamp or support 111 is mounted at ahigher point upon the mast 106 and provided with a bearing portion112,Within which the crane-arm is journaled. The mast is provided withsuitable guy-rods or stays 113, extending from its upper end downwardlyto the main frame of the machine, and upon its extreme upper end ismounted a guide-pulley 114, over which is trained a cord or cable 115,one end of which is connected with a clip 116 upon the crane-arm, whileits opposite end extends to and around a guide-pulley 117, mounted in asuitable bracket upon the main frame, and thence to and is connectedwith a hand-lever 118, working over a notched segment. In order toprovide means for rotating the crane -arm about its vertical pivot, saidarm is provided at a point immediately above the upper end of the socket108 with a spur-gear 120, which has splined engagement with thecrane-arm to permit the latter to reciprocate therethrough whileretaining driving engagement therewith and which is confined againstvertical movement. by means of a support or casting 121, mountedadjacent to the casting 107. The support 121 is provided with an eye122, through which is arranged to reciprocate a rack bar 123, whichintermeshes with the spur-gear 120 and extends from the latterhorizontally forward through a suitable guide-bearing formed in theupper end of a bracket 124 and terminates in an eye 125, with which isconnected an operatingrod 126, which extends forwardly to and isconnected with a second hand-lever 127. The lever 127 works over anotched segment 128 substantially similar to that of the hand-lever 118,heretofore described. The length of the toothed portion of the rack andits engagement with the spur-gear 120 are such that by shifting thehand-lever 127 from one extreme of its movement to the other thecranearm will be oscillated from a position with its grapple verticallyabove the center of the rotating platform to a position in which thecrane arm will extend in a direction approximately ninety degreestherefrom, in which latter position the shock will have been carriedentirely off the platform in readiness to be lowered to the ground. Itwill be noted that both the levers 118 and 127, as well as the handle38, connected with the cord whereby the mast is collapsed, are solocated as to be convenient of access to the driver while seated uponthe seat 129. The grapple 105 upon the end of the cranearm in thepreferred construction shown herein comprises a pair of semicirculararms 130 131, arranged to cross each other and pivoted together attheirintersections tong fashion, one of said arms being formed rigid with andin continuation of the main shank 132, which is attached to the end ofthe cranearm, while the end 133 of the opposite arm 130 is arranged toextend in somewhat di- Vergent relation to the shank 132 when the armsare in approximately closed position. Upon the shank 132 is pivoted alink 134, the swinging end of which is adapted to engage a hook or stud135 upon the shank 133, whereby the compressing arms are held lockedtogether. In order to insure a more positive engagement of the grapplewith the shock for the purpose of lifting the latter bodily, each of theembracing-arms is provided with an inwardly-extending prong 136, whichis forced into the mass of stalks as the arms are brought intocompressing engagement with the latter.

The operation of the apparatus constructed as described has beenindicated in connection with the description of the mechanism, but maybe briefly recapitulated as follows: The crane-arm being swung into aposition in rear of the platform and assuming that the platform isempty, the several conveyers will be in the position indicated in Fig. 2of the drawings, the mast extended into its upright position, and thecompressing-fingers 4:7 resting in engagement therewith. As the machineis drawn along the gathering-fingers straddle the row of corn and directthe stalks into the throat or opening between said fingers, uponentering which they are engaged and carried rearwardly in a positivemanner by the several prongs of the conveyer-belts. As the stalks reachthe sickle they are severed and continue in their progress rearwardlybetween the gathering-fingers and are delivered to the space between theconveyer-belts 54 55 and the swinging guard 78. The severalconveyor-belts working synchronously and continuously as the machineadvances carry the stalks to the center of the rotating platform andlodge them in upright position against the mast, the stalks being heldin upright position against the mast as they are carried away from theconveyers by the rotation of the platform by the severalcompressing-fingers 47 and the supporting-fingers 40. As the platformcontinues to rotate and the conveyers continue to discharge the stalksagainst the accumulating shock, the

latter is built up in continuous spirallayers, the compressing-fingersmeantime yielding outwardly, but always confining the accumulated stalksuntil the shock has reached the desired size. The operator now stops themachine, swings the crane-arm into position for its grapple to embracethe top of the shock, (it being noted that the pivoted arm may be openedback out of the way as the crane-arm swings into position,) collapsesthe mast by pulling on the cord attached to the handle 38, then closesthe grapple-arms upon the shock and locks them, and finally proceeds tolift the shock free from the platform and .deposit it by first throwingthe handlever 118 forward, so as to lift the crane-arm and attachedshock bodily and then shifting thelever 127 forwardly to rot-ate thecranearm to its delivering position, whereupon he releases thefirst-mentioned lever and lowers without beinglowered after ithas beenswung free of the platform. Either method is practicable with themachine as constructed, but the latter method is more expeditious andpreferred.

While the machine constructed and arranged as described will undernormal conditions operate with entire satisfaction, yet it is sometimesfound that in case of operating when a high wind is blowing there ismore or less tendency of the first few stalks which are lodged againstthe upright support or mast being blown out of position, and I havetherefore shown in Figs. Band 9 an auxiliary mechanism constructed toovercome any such difficulty. This mechanism, it will be understood, maybe made as an attachment which can be applied temporarily or may be madea permanent part of the mechanism. As shown in said figures, theauxiliary attachment consists of a second swinging conveyor pivotallyconnected with the free end of the main conveyor. This device comprisesa horizontal arm 137, pivotally connected with the outer vertical shaft72, near the upper end of the latter, and carrying at its outer end abelt-pulley 138, around which extends a friction-belt 139, the oppositeend of which is trained around a second pulley 140, mounted upon theshaft 72. The position of the tend adjacent to the upright mast, asshown clearly in Fig. 8. The pulley 140 is united by means of a sleeveconnection with the adjacent pulley, which carries the conveyerbelt 154,so as to rotate with the latter, and thereby drive the friction-belt139. By reason of the spring connection between the arm 141 and theshaft 72 the auxiliary conveyer is free to yield and swing relatively tothe main conveyer, and inasmuch as the belt 139 is simply afriction-belt devoid of projections which would positively engage thestalks of corn the action of said auxiliary conveyer does not interferewith the stalks being properly lodged against the laterally-projectingarms of the mast, notwithstanding the auxiliary conveyer extends beneaththe same.

While I have herein shown What I deem to be a preferred embodiment of myinvention, yet it will be obvious that the details of construction maybe modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I donot, therefore, limit myself to these details except to the extent thatthe same are made the subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a corn harvester, the combination with acutting mechanism and a conveyer mechanism, of a rotating platform towhich said conveyer mechanism delivers,and means for initiallysupporting the corn in upright position upon said platform, adapted tobe held removably in position above the platform,comprisingavertically-arranged collapsible support rising from the center of theplatform and adapted to be collapsed downwardlyto an extent tosubstantially withdraw it from within the shock before the shock is tiedor lifted from its position:

2. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a cutting mechanism and aconveyer mechanism, of a horizontally-arranged rotatable platform towhich said conveyer mechanism delivers, means for initially supportingthe central portion of a shock upon said rotating platform comprising acollapsible mast constructed to collapse downwardly to an extent tosubstantially withdraw it from the shock before the shock is tied orlifted f rom its position, a series of compressing deremote from theaxis of the shock, and means Y for discharging the shock from theplatform.

4. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a cutting mechanism and aconveyer mechanism, of a horizontally continuously rotatingplatform towhich said conveyer mechanism delivers, means for initiallysupmechanism, of a horizontally continuously rotating platform to whichsaid conveyer mechanism delivers, means forinitially supporting thecentral portion of the shock comprising a collapsible mast adapted to beextended to rise from the platform to a height sufficient to support thestalks in upright position, during the formation of the shock andcollapsible downwardly to an extent to substantially withdraw it fromthe shock before the shock is tied or lifted from its position, andmeans for discharging the completed shock from the platform, comprisinga swinging crane provided with a grappling device adapted to engage theupper end of the shock and to lift the latter bodily from the platform.

6. In a corn harvester, the combination with a cutting mechanism andshock mechanism adapted to form a shock in upright position, of meansfordischarging the shock comprising an elevated support, a crane-armjournaled to oscillate upon a vertical axis upon said support, andprovided with a compress ing device adapted to engage the upper portionof the shock, means for lifting said cranearm, with its load bodily,comprising an overhead pulley, a cable attached to said cranearm at apoint below said pulley and extending thence over the pulley, and meansfor rotating the crane-arm comprising a shiftable rack-bar havingoperative engagement with a gear operatively connected with the cranearmand a hand-lever operatively connected with said rack-bar.

7. In combination with a corn-harvester provided with mechanism forforming a shock in upright position upon the machine, means fordischarging the shock comprising a stationary upright mast, a crane-arm,the body portion whereof is rotatably supported in upright position fromsaid mast, a lifting-cable attached to said crane-arm and extendingthence around an overhead pulley and means for supporting the lower endportion of the crane-arm body and imparting rotation thereto comprisingan upright socket within which the crane-arm is seated, a gear havingnonrotatable and sliding engagement with the body of said crane-arm andconfined against axial movement with the latter, a rack-bar operativelyengaged with said gear and a hand-lever operatively engaged with saidrack-bar.

8. In a corn-handling apparatus, the combination with a shock-platform,and means for conveying the stalks thereto, of a tubular, supportingmember mounted adjacent to said platform, a crane-arm rotatablytelescoped within said tubular memberand adapted to be lifted verticallytherein and provided with a compressing-arm forming a rigid extension ofthe cranearm proper, and a second compressing-arm pivotally connectedwith the first, and means for holding said arms in compressed engagementwith an embraced shock or bundle.

9. In a corn-handling apparatus, the combination of a crane-armrotatably telescoped with a stationary tubular supporting memher, agrappling device comprising a compressing-arm rigidly connected withsaid,

crane-arm, a second compressing-arm pivotally connected with the first,means for holding said arms in compressed engagement with a shock orbundle, said arms being respectively provided with inwardly projectingprongs adapted to sink into the mass of corn to insure a more positivehold therewith and means for lifting said crane-arm within said tubularsupport for the purposes shown.

10. In a corn-shocking apparatus, the combination with thesupporting-frame, of a collapsible mast consisting of a series oftubular sections of successively smaller diameter and adapted totelescope into each other, and a series of spring-latches adapted tohold the respective sections in extended relation, each of saidspring-latches, except the first, being adapted to be disengaged by theengagement therewith of a higher telescoping section and means fordisengaging the first section, sub stantially as described.

11. In a corn-shocking apparatus, the combination with a rotatingplatform provided centrally with a cup-like socket, of a collapsiblemast supported therein consisting of a series of short tubular sectionsof successively smaller diameter adapted to telescope within each other,a series of spring-latches respectively secured to the several sectionsand adapted to spring inwardly beneath the respective next highersections when the latter are in extended position, said spring-latchesbeing provided with internal inclined cam portions adapted to be engagedand forced outwardly by the downward passage of an upper section, asliding block arranged in the innermost section adapted to releasethelatch supporting the latter in its downward movement, a spring-latchadapted to hold said sliding block in uplifted position and a cableoperatively connected with said spring-latch and extending thencedownwardly through the mast and to a point accessible by the operator,whereby the mast may be collapsed after the shock has been formed andbefore its removal, for the purpose set forth.

12. In combination with a collapsible mast forming a part of a shockmechanism, a tubular upper section open at its upper end, a slidingblock arranged within said section, a series of arms pivotally connectedwith said sliding block so as to move bodily with the latter, andlongitudinallyextending slots formed through the sides of the topsection and extending to the open upper end thereof, through which saidarms project, said arms being adapted to be retracted and projected bythe relative sliding movement of said block within the section.

13. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the main frame providedwith a bullwheel, a supporting-wheel and a rotatable platform, of a pairof gathering-fingers arranged at the front of said frame, upper andlower conveyer-belts arranged to travel longitudinally upon each of saidgathering-fingers whereby the stalks are carried rearwardlytherebetween, while held in upright position, a cutting mechanismoperating to sever the stalks during their passage between thegathering-fingers, a spring-pressed extension conveyer mechanismcomprising upper and lower conveyers arranged to receive the stalks fromthe throat of the gathering-fingers and convey them in upright positionto the traveling platform, the delivery end of said conveyer mechanismbeing adapted to shift relatively to the axis of the rotating platformand held yieldingly toward the center thereof, means for temporarilysupporting the accumulated stalks in upright position upon the platformand means for discharging the shock from the platform.

14. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the main frame providedwith a bullwheel, asupporting-wheeland a rotating platform, of a pairofgathering-fingers arranged at the front of said frame, upper and lowerconveyer-belts arranged to travel longitudinally upon each of saidgatheringfingers whereby the stalks are carried rearwardly therebetween,while held in upright position, a cutting mechanism operating to severthe stalks during their passage between the gathering-fingers, anextension conveyer mechanism comprising upper and lower conveyorsarranged to receive the stalks from the throat of the gathering-fingersand convey them in upright position to the traveling platform, thedelivery end of said conveyer mechanism being adapted to shiftrelatively to the axis of the rotating platform, and being heldyieldably toward said axis by spring-pressure, a

collapsible mast arranged at the axis of the platform, a series ofcompressing-fingers mounted upon standards located adjacent to theperiphery of the platform and arranged to project inwardly to hold theaccumulated stalks in position against said mast, and a swinging-cranemechanism mounted upon the main frame and adapted to lift the shockbodily and transfer it to a position in rear of the platform,substantially as described.

15. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the main frame providedwith a bull- 5 wheel, a supporting-wheel and a rotatable platform, of apair of gathering-fingers arranged at the front of said frame, upper andlower conveyer-belts arranged to travel longitudinallyupon each ofsaid'gathering-fin- IO gers whereby the stalks are carried rearwardlytherebetween, while held in upright position, a cutting mechanismoperating to sever the stalks during their passage between thegathering-fingers, an extension conveyer mechan- 13 ism comprising upperand lower conveyors arranged to receive the stalks from the throat ofthe gathering-fingers and convey them in upright position to thetraveling platform, the delivery end of said conveyor mechanism 20 beingadapted to shift relatively to the axis of the rotating platform andbeing held yieldably toward said axis by spring-pressure, a

GEORGE D. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK (J. GOODWTN, SAMUEL N. POND.

collapsible mast arranged at the axis of the

